Recording apparatus, reproducing apparatus, and recording and/or reproducing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an apparatus having a microphone, an analog to digital converting circuit, a semiconductor memory, input device, and a controller. The analog to digital converting circuit converts an output signal from the microphone into a digital signal. The semiconductor memory stores the output signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. The input device at least carry out input of a record start and a record end. The controller, according to the input from the input device, carries out operation control for start and stop of writing into the semiconductor memory a digital signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. When the input device is operated and a predetermined time interval has passed, the controller controls to start writing the digital signal from the analog/digital conversion circuit into the semiconductor memory.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/925,126, filedon Sep. 8, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,092, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein, and claims priority fromJapanese Application No. 08-246684, filed Sep. 18, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, a reproducingapparatus, and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, andparticularly to a recording apparatus, a reproducing apparatus, and arecording and/or reproducing apparatus having a storage device.

2. Prior Art

A voice signal recording apparatus such as a portable, small-size taperecorder and an optical magnetic disc apparatus capable of writingnormally has a built-in microphone for recording, in a cabinet thereof.The cabinet also has operation pushbutton switches such as a recordingstart pushbutton switch and a stop pushbutton switch.

These pushbutton switches are usually provided with a click mechanism sothat a user can feel when a pushbutton switch is depressed, whichassures the operation.

The above-mentioned small-size voice signal recording apparatus has aproblem that a click sound is also recorded because it is impossible toassure a sufficient distance between a microphone and, for example, arecording start pushbutton switch.

FIG. 1(A) through FIG. 1(F) shows a concrete example. If a recordingstart pushbutton switch is depressed at time t₁ and released at time t₂as shown in FIG. 1(A), and a stop pushbutton switch is depressed at timet₃ and released at time t₄ as shown in FIG. 1(B), then, as shown in FIG.1(C), a voice is generated at each of these operations. The voices havethe maximum amplitude at t₁, t₂, t₃, and t₄, respectively and theamplitude is gradually attenuated for a time interval T. Consequently,as shown in FIG. 1( f), the click sounds are inputted over a voice to berecorded. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1(E), recording startswith a delay of Δ1 after time t₁ when the recording start pushbuttonswitch is specified, and the recording terminates with a delay of Δ2after time t₃ when the recording stop pushbutton switch is specified.That is, as shown in FIG. 1(F), three click voices are recorded over avoice to be recorded.

Thus, a small-size voice signal recording apparatus having a built-inmicrophone has a problem that if a pushbutton switch provided with aclick mechanism is used for improving operation feeling for a user, theclick sound of the pushbutton switch is also unnecessarily recorded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide arecording apparatus which resolves the above-mentioned problem.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reproducingapparatus which resolves the above-mentioned problem.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus which resolves the above-mentioned problem.

According to the present invention, there is provided a recordingapparatus including a microphone, an analog to digital convertingcircuit, a storage device, an input device, and a controller. The analogto digital converting circuit converts an output signal from themicrophone, into a digital signal. An output signal from this analog todigital converting circuit is written in the storage device. The inputdevice is capable of entering at least a recording start and recordingstop. The controller, according to the operation of the input device,controls start and stop of writing into the storage device a digitalsignal produced from the analog to digital converting circuit. Thecontroller controls so as to start writing into the storage device thedigital signal from the analog to digital converting circuit when apredetermined time interval has passed after the input device isoperated.

According to the present invention, there is provided a reproducingapparatus including a storage device, time setter, a memory, and acontroller. At least one dynamic data is written into the storagedevice. The time setter is used for specifying a time. The memory storesa time data specified by the time setter. The controller reads out thedynamic data from the storage device according to the time data storedin the memory.

According to the present invention, there is provided a recording and/orreproducing apparatus including a microphone, an analog to digitalconverting circuit, a semiconductor memory, a digital to analogconverting circuit, an input device, a controller, and a cabinet. Theanalog to digital converting circuit converts an output signal from themicrophone, into a digital signal. The semiconductor memory stores anoutput signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. A digitalsignal read from the semiconductor memory is converted into an analogsignal by the digital to analog converting circuit. The input device atleast enters a recording start, recording stop, and reproduction start.The controller, according to an operation of the input device, controlswriting of a digital signal from the analog to digital convertingcircuit, into the semiconductor memory, and reading of a digital signalfrom the semiconductor memory. The cabinet is provided with themicrophone, the analog to digital converting circuit, the digital toanalog converting circuit, and the input device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(A) to (F) are to be used to explain the relationship between aclick sound generated when a recording start pushbutton or a recordingstop pushbutton is depressed and a result of recording.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an IC recorder as arecording and/or reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a front external view of the IC recorder according to theembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power section ofthe IC recorder.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of recording by the ICrecorder.

FIG. 6(A) to (G) are to be used to explain the relationship between aclick voice generated by the recording start pushbutton or recordingstop pushbutton, and a recording procedure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of reproducing by the ICrecorder.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of alarm reproduction by theIC recorder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention will be explained in detail with reference to theattached drawings. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus will beexplained as a recording/reproducing apparatus (hereinafter, referred toas an IC recorder) in which a signal from a microphone is stored in asemiconductor memory, and a signal read from the semiconductor memory isoutputted from a speaker.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the IC recorder 1 has:

a recording section 10 which converts a voice signal from a microphone11, into a voice data, and stores it in a semiconductor memory 9;

a reproducing section 20 which reads out the voice data from thesemiconductor memory 9. converts it into a voice signal, and drives aspeaker 24;

a controller 30 which controls the recording section 10;

a display section 40 which displays an operation state and an operationprocedure;

a power source 50 for supplying power to the controller 30 and others;and

an input device 60 for a user to carry out operations.

The recording section 10, as shown in FIG. 2, has: an amplifier 12 foramplifying a voice signal from the microphone 11; a automatic gaincontroller 13 (hereinafter, referred to as AGC) for adjusting the voicesignal amplified by the amplifier 12 to be at a proper level; an encoder14 for converting a voice signal from the AGC 13 into a voice data; anda buffer memory 15 for delaying the voice data from the encoder 14.

A voice entered to the microphone 11 is converted into a voice signal bythe microphone 11 and supplied to the amplifier 12. The amplifier 12amplifies the voice signal and supplies a resultant signal to the AGC13. The voice signal which has been amplified by the amplifier 12 isfurther amplified by the AGC so as to obtain an appropriate level, whichis then supplied to the encoder 14.

Because a voice signal has an intimate correlation with time the encoder14, for example by way of adaptive differential pulse code modulation(hereinafter, referred to ADPCM), encodes a voice signal with a smallamount of data so as to generate a voice data, which is supplied to thebuffer memory 15.

The buffer memory has a capacity sufficient to store the voice data fromthe encoder 14 for a predetermined time interval, and temporarily storesthe voice data from the encoder 14 and then supplies the data to thesemiconductor memory 9.

The semiconductor memory 9 is made of an involatile memory in whichcontents of a storage device will be held without disappearing even if apower source of a memory, for example, electrical erasable/programmableread-only memory (hereinafter, referred to as EEPROM), is turned off.The semiconductor memory stores the voice data supplied from the buffermemory 15 as well as a control data (hereinafter, referred to as TOCdata) which controls a voice data, by indicating in which area the voicedata is stored. For example, the semiconductor memory 9 has a storagecapacity of 16 M bytes and can store for 8 minutes a voice datacorresponding to a voice signal of 200 to 3400 Hz at an SP mode whichwill be explained later, and for 16 minutes a voice data correspondingto a voice signal of 200 to 1700 Hz at an LP mode which will beexplained later.

On the other hand, the reproduction section 20, as shown in FIG. 2,includes: a decoder 21 for converting the voice data from thesemiconductor memory 9, into a voice signal; a filter 22; and anamplifier 23 which amplifies the voice signal from the filter 22 andsupplies the signal to a speaker 24.

The decoder corresponds to the encoder 14 of the recording section 10.The voice data which has been read out of the semiconductor memory 9,i.e., the voice data which has been encoded by the ADPCM method isdecoded by this decoder so as to generate a so-called PAM signal. Thefilter 22 eliminates a high frequency component exceeding a voice zonefrom this PAM signal, and outputs a voice signal. The signal from thedecoder 21 is supplied to the amplifier 23, which amplifies the voicesignal and drives the speaker 24. The voice which has been recorded isoutputted from the speaker 24.

The controller 30, as shown in FIG. 2, includes: a ROM 31 which stores aprogram used for controlling operation of the IC recorder; amicrocomputer (hereinafter, referred to as CPU) which executes theprogram stored in the ROM 31 for controlling the semiconductor memory 9and the recording section 9; a timer 33 for time count; and a randomaccess memory 34 (hereinafter, referred to as RAM) which temporarilystores a time, a result of program execution or the like.

The controller is supplied with signals from various pushbuttons 61arranged in the input device 60. When one of the pushbuttons 61 isdepressed, the CPU 32 reads out a corresponding program from the ROM 31and executes the program for controlling a necessary section. Forexample, if a recording start pushbutton 61 k which will be detailedlater is depressed, the CPU 32 reads out a program corresponding torecording from the ROM 31 and executes the program so as to operate theamplifier 12, the AGC 13, and the encoder 14. The voice data temporarilystored in the buffer memory 15 is stored in an empty storage area of thesemiconductor memory 9. The controller 30 controls writing and readingof a voice data to/from the semiconductor memory 9. Up to 99 cases ofvoice data can be written into each of two files A and B, each casebeing identified with an index number. According to an index number, avoice data is read out, or a voice data can also be read out when aspecified time has come. This will be detailed later. The CPU 32 isconnected to a quartz oscillator 35 for operating the timer 33. As willbe detailed later, a voice data stored in the semiconductor memory 9 isread out at a predetermined time. This is also controlled by the CPU 32.The controller 30 is connected to a display section 40, and the CPU 32displays various information such as an operation state and operationprocedure of the IC recorder 1, on the display section 40. The displaysection 40 includes a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred toas LCD) panel 41 and a back light 42 for illuminating this LCD panel.For example, when a menu/feed pushbutton 61 s of the input device 60 isdepressed, the CPU 32 successively displays a date and a time on thedisplay section 40 so that the user can set the timer, looking at thisdisplay.

Description will now be directed a configuration of the input device 60with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 3 shows a portable IC recorderhaving an external cabinet formed in size of a palm. The cabinetcontains a printed circuit board of the aforementioned recording section10, the reproduction section 20 or the like. This IC recorder 1 isformed in such a manner that it can easily be held by a left hand of auser so that the user can operate this IC recorder simultaneously with awriting work by the right hand. The IC recorder 1 has an externalcabinet 1 a, where pushbuttons 61 of the input section 60 are arranged.As shown in FIG. 3, the external cabinet 1 a is provided with a handstrap 1 b which is used by the user when the user carry the IC recorder1.

The input section is composed of the following pushbuttons: themenu/feed pushbutton 61 a, a reproduction pushbutton 61 b for starting areproduction, a return/feed pushbutton 61 c for setting an index number,a file select pushbutton 61 for switching between the aforementioned twofiles A and B, a stop pushbutton 61 e for terminating recording or thelike, an SP/LP pushbotton 61 f for switching between an SP mode and anLP mode, a light pushbutton 61 g for turning the back light 42 on, adisplay pushbutton 61 h, an index pushbutton 61 i for setting an index,an erase pushbutton 61 j for erasing a voice data stored in thesemiconductor memory 9, and a recording start pushbotton 61 k forstarting a recording. Among these pushbuttons, those which are used mostfrequently, i.e., the reproduction pushbutton 61 b and the return/feedpushbutton 61 c are arranged in the notched portion of a side surface atthe upper left of the external cabinet 1 a in FIG. 3, so that the usercan easily operate these pushbuttons with his/her left thumb. Therecording start pushbutton 61 k which is also used frequently is formedlarger than the other pushbuttons and arranged at the center of the mainsurface of the external cabinet 1 a so that the user can easily operatethis pushbutton with his/her left thumb. When one of these pushbuttonsis operated, corresponding mechanical switch located below the depressedpushbutton is operated. At this time, a click sound is generated. Theclick sound will be detailed later.

The aforementioned microphone 11, the LCD panel 41 and the speaker 24are also arranged on this main surface of the external cabinet 1 a.Because the IC recorder is formed small so as to be convenient forcarrying, the microphone 11 is located near the recording start button61 k.

The input device 60 includes: a hold switch lamp 62 that indicates ahold mode; a record/reproduce lamp 63 which indicates recording orreproduction is in progress; a volume switch 64 for adjusting volume ofthe reproduced voice; and an earphone jack not shown. As shown in FIG.3, the record/reproduce lamp 63 and the hold lamp are arranged on themain surface of the external cabinet lA so that they can easily be seenwhile using. A hold switch not shown, the volume switch 64, and theearphone jack are used less frequently and arranged on the side portionof the external cabinet lA. When the hold switch is operated operationof the operation pushbuttons of the input device 60 is invalidated so asto prevent malfunction of the IC recorder while carrying.

Subsequently, description will be directed to the power source section50. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the power source section includes:a battery 51; a DA/DA converter 52 for increasing an output voltage ofthe battery 51; a voltage detecting circuit 53 for detecting an outputvoltage of the battery 51; and a capacitor 54 for charging with anoutput voltage of the DC/DC converter 52.

As has been explained, the IC recorder 1 is for portable use and formedin size of a palm. Consequently, the battery 51 should also be small andis composed of a single cell of SUM-4 type. The output voltage of thebattery 51, i.e., 1.5 volt is increased by the DC/DC converter 52 to avoltage required for operation of the amplifiers 12, 23, CPU 32 andothers, and current of the resultant voltage is supplied to each of thecircuits.

The voltage detecting circuit 53 detects an output voltage of thebattery 51 and, when the output voltage of the battery 51 becomes, forexample, 0.8 volt, terminates operation of the DC/DC converter. Electricpower in the battery 51 will not be consumed after its output hasreached a predetermined value, for example, 0.8 V. This prevents rapiddecrease of the voltage of the battery 51 due to the DC/DC converter 52,thus preventing liquid leak of the battery 51.

The capacitor 54 is connected between the ground and a power cable whichconnects the DC/DC converter 52 with the timer 33 of the controller 30,and is charged by an output of the DC/DC converter 52. The timer 33 isoperated with current supplied from this DC/DC converter 52 while theDC/DC converter 52 is operating; and with current from the capacitor 54when the output voltage of the battery 51 is lowered or the DC/DCconverter 52 is not operating when the battery 51 is taken out forreplacement with a new one. That is, the capacitor 54 is a so calledback-up capacitor capable of, for example, about 3 minutes of back up.

In the IC recorder 1 of such a configuration, a recording is carried outaccording to a procedure, for example, as shown in FIG. 5. Firstly, theuser depresses the SP/LP pushbutton 61 f so as to select the LP mode orthe SP mode as a recording method (step 1). The LCD panel 41 shows “SP”or “LS”. Next, the user depresses the file select pushbutton 61 d so asto select file A or file B provided in the semiconductor memory 9, andthe selected file is indicated on the LCD panel 41 (step 2).

When the recording start pushbutton 61 k is depressed, a recording statestarts in the IC recorder 1. When the user speaks toward the microphonesection 11, a corresponding voice data is written in a specified area ofthe semiconductor memory 9 (step 3). When the stop pushbutton 61 e isdepressed, the IC recorder 1 releases the recording state (step 4). Whenthe voice data is recorded in the semiconductor memory, the followingare also recorded: TOC data, file number, index number which indicatesthe voice signal which is being recorded. When the user wishes to recordanother voice data immediately after the first recording operation, thevoice data is recorded in the same mode and the same file area specifiedfirst, with an index number following the first index number. That is,step 1 of mode selection and step 2 of file selection can be omitted.

As has thus far been described, the IC recorder 1 starts recording whenthe recording start pushbutton 61 k is depressed. Because the ICrecorder 1 is of a small size and the microphone 11 is located near therecording start pushbutton 61 k, it is necessary to prevent recording ofa click sound generated when the recording start pushbutton 61 k or thestop pushbutton 61 e is depressed. For this, a voice data entered fromthe microphone 11 is temporarily stored in the buffer memory and thensupplied to the semiconductor memory 9. This click sound is consideredto be caused by changeover of a contact of a mechanical switch which isoperated by the operation pushbutton arranged on the PC board of the ICrecorder 1.

For example, FIG. 6(A) shows that the recording start pushbutton 61 k isdepressed at time t₁₁ and released at time t₂₁, whereas FIG. 6(B) showsthat the stop pushbutton 61 e is depressed at time t₃₁and released attime t₃₃, In this case, As shown in FIG. 6(C), a sound is generatedhaving a maximum amplitude at times t₁₁, t₂₁, and t₃₁, and enduring fortime T while attenuating its amplitude. Consequently, a sound to berecorded through the microphone 11 is overlapped with the click soundgenerated when the recording start pushbutton 61 k or the stoppushbutton 61 e is operated.

In the IC recorder according to the embodiment of the present invention,a click sound generated when the recording start pushbutton 61 k or thestop button 61 e is operated is not recorded because a voice data issupplied through the buffer memory 15 to the semiconductor memory 9.FIGS. 6(a) and (B) show that the recording start pushbutton 61 k isoperated at time t₁₁, i.e., the mechanical switch arranged below thepushbutton 61 k is operated by a first half, and the fact that therecording start pushbutton 61 k has been depressed is assured by the CPU32 at time t₁₂. Then, read out of a voice data from the buffer memory 15is started by a control signal from the CPU 32 at a time t₁₃ when apredetermined time λ1 has passed from time t₁₂. The voice data iswritten into the semiconductor memory 9 according to an addressspecified by the CPU 32, thus starting the recording operation. At thistime, the voice data which is read out from the buffer memory 15 is adata which is read out from an address corresponding to a time after alaps of time from t₁₁, to t₁₃. The aforementioned predetermined time λ1is a time required for attenuation to an unhearable level of a clicksound generated when an operation pushbutton such as a recording startpushbutton is depressed. As shown in FIG. 6(D), the microphone 11outputs a signal containing a click sound generated when the recordingstart pushbutton 61 k is depressed. However, as shown FIG. 6(E), thebuffer memory 15 outputs a signal not containing a component of theclick sound which can be heard by the user. Consequently, there is noproblem that the signal is written into the semiconductor memory 9 as itis. Whether or not the aforementioned predetermined time λ1 has passedis counted by a timer function provided in the CPU 32 or by using thetimer 33.

As shown in FIG. 6(C), the aforementioned click sound is also generatedwhen the user has released the recording start pushbutton 61 k, i.e.,when the pushbutton 61 is restored. That is, at time t₂₁, user's fingerleaves the recording start pushbutton 61 k, i.e., the mechanical switcharranged below the pushbutton 61 k is operated by the second half; andat time t₂₂, the fact that the finger has left the recording startpushbutton 61 k is confirmed by the CPU 32. Then, the recordingoperation is temporarily stopped at a data corresponding to time t₂₁,and is re-started at time t₂₃ when the predetermined time λ1 has passedfrom time t₂₂, When the fact that the user's finger has left therecording start pushbutton 61 k is confirmed at time t₂₂, writing intothe buffer memory 15 starts with a voice data from an addresscorresponding to time t₂₁, whereas read out starts with a voice datafrom an address corresponding to a moment when the predetermined time λ1has passed and the data is written into the semiconductor memory 9 at anaddress specified by the CPU 32. As a result, in the same way as theaforementioned click sound generated when the recording start pushbutton61 k is depressed, the buffer memory 15 outputs a voice data containinga component of the click sound which cannot be heard practically by theuser. Thus, substantially no problem is caused. According to the presentembodiment, the click sound generated by operation of the recordingstart pushbutton or the like has a length measured to be about 10 msec.Consequently, the aforementioned time required for reducing the noisegenerated by the click sound can be very short. Therefore, practicallyno problem is caused if the recording operation is interrupted as shownin FIG. 6(F).

The recording operation can be terminated by depressing the stoppushbutton 61 e. The click sound is also generated twice when the stoppushbutton 61 e is operated: as shown in FIG. 6(C), when the pushbutton61 e is depressed and when the pushbutton 61 e is released. The stoppushbutton 61 e is depressed at time t₃₁, i.e., the mechanical switcharranged below the pushbutton 61 e is operated by the first half, andthe fact that the stop pushbutton 61 e has been depressed is confirmedby the CPU 32 at time t₃₂. Then, the recording operation is stopped witha data corresponding back to time t_(3l). The recording operation isterminated at a moment when a data in the buffer memory 15 at addressescorresponding to a time lapse between t₃₁ and t₃₂ has written into thesemiconductor memory 9.

As has been described above, the voice data written in the semiconductormemory 9 actually contains a component of the click sound as shown inFIG. 6(G), but the click sound has been attenuated sufficiently to anunhearable level. Consequently, there is no practical problem whenreproducing the voice data from the semiconductor memory 9.

It should be noted that the aforementioned predetermined time λ1 is atime which passes while a click sound generated by operation of therecording start pushbutton 61 k travels to the microphone 11.Consequently, its value is determined be a distance between therecording start button 61 k and the microphone 11.

Description will now be directed reproduction of a voice data which hasbeen recorded. The reproduction proceeds, for example, as shown in FIG.7. Firstly, when the file select pushbutton 61 d of the IC recorder 1 isdepressed by a user, file “A” or “B” is selected in the semiconductormemory 9, and the one selected appears on the LCD panel 41 (step 11).Next, the user depress the return/feed pushbutton 61 c so as to selectan index number recorded in the semiconductor memory 9 (step 22). Whenthe reproduce pushbutton 61 b is depressed, the IC recorder reproducesthe voice data desired by the user (step 13). In order to stop thereproduction, depress the stop pushbutton 61 e. To proceed to anotherjob or return back to a preceding job, confirm that no reproduction orrecording is in progress and depress the return/feed pushbutton 61 c soas to select the following or the preceeding index number, data of whichis reproduced when the reproduce pushbutton 61 b is depressed.

Moreover, the controller 30 of the IC recorder 1 is provided with acrystal oscillator 35. By using this crystal oscillator 35 and the timer33, a date and time are displayed on the LCD panel 41. The date and timecan be set as follows. When the menu/feed pushbutton 61 a is depressed,a date appears on the LCD panel and a date setting mode is set in. TheIV recorder 1 can set a date by pressing the return/feed pushbutton 61c. When the menu/feed pushbutton 61 a is depressed in this state, themode is switched to a time setting mode, and the time appears on the LCDpanel. The IV recorder 1 can set a time by depressing the return/feedpushbutton 61 c. The IC recorder 1 terminates the time setting mode whenthe stop pushbutton 61 e is depressed.

Furthermore, the IC recorder 1 is capable of so called alarmreproduction, i.e., reading out a voice data from the semiconductormemory 9 at a predetermined time which has been set by the timer 33.This alarm reproduction can be set, for example, as shown in FIG. 7.Firstly, in step 21, a user depresses the file select pushbutton 61 dand the return/feed pushbutton 61 c so as to select a file and indexnumber to be read out. The necessary data is written in the RAM 34.Then, in step 22, the IV recorder 1 sets the alarm reproduction modewhen the menu/feed pushbutton 61 a is depressed. “ON” or “OFF” appearson the LCD panel. One of these is selected by depressing the return/feedpushbutton 61 c. When “ON” is selected and the menu/feed pushbutton isfurther depressed as step 3, the alarm function enters ON state. The ICrecorder 1 proceeds to step 24 when the menu/feed pushbutton 61 a isdepressed. In step 24, the user can select a desired day of the week bypressing the return/feed pushbutton 61 c. If the return/feed pushbutton61 c is further depressed after selecting the day of the week, a daydata concerning this day is written into the RAM 34, and the IC recorderproceeds to step 25. In step 25, the user can select a desired time bypressing the return/feed pushbutton 61 c. When the user depresses thestop pushbutton 61 e, the IC recorder writes a day data concerning thisday into the RAM 34, terminating the alarm reproduction mode setting. Inthe IC recorder 1 in which the alarm reproduction mode has been set in,when the timer 33 count the same time as the alarm setting, the CPU 32reads out the data which has been written in the RAM 34, i.e., filedata, index number, day data and time data to be executed. Thus, thevoice data corresponding to the RAM 34 is read from the semiconductormemory 9 for reproduction.

The IC recorder 1 having the aforementioned configuration enables a userto store an aural memorandum as a voice data instead of writing thememorandum on paper. The IC recorder 1, by using the buffer memory 15,makes it possible that a reproduced data is not affected by a noise dueto a click sound generated by depressing operation pushbuttons atrecording start and stop. The IC recorder 1 is capable of reproducing avoice data at a predetermined time by setting the timer 33. For example,the IC recorder 1 can prevent the user from forgetting something whichis reproduced as a voice data at a necessary moment. Because the ICrecorder 1 is of a small size and can be placed in a user's pocket, theuser can carry it any time anywhere. Moreover, because a data can bereproduced at a specified time, i.e., alarm reproduction time, the userwill not miss a necessary memorandum.

The present invention thus far explained as an example of voicerecording and/or reproducing apparatus having a semiconductor memory asa recording medium is not limited to this, but is also applicable torecording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording image data insteadof voice data or to a voice recording/reproducing apparatus using a tapeor disc as a recording medium and having a microphone built in anexternal cabinet. The IC recorder which employs two separate pushbuttonswitches for a recording start pushbutton and a stop pushbutton can alsobe realized as an IC recorder having a single pushbutton switch for bothof the recording start and stop pushbuttons.

1. A reproducing apparatus comprising: a storage device having two filesinto which dynamic data is written; time setting means for setting atime; a memory for storing time data corresponding to said time set bysaid time setting means; a controller for reading said dynamic data fromsaid storage device according to said time data stored in said memory;and selector means operable by a user of the apparatus for selecting oneof said two files to which the dynamic data is to be written, wherein aplurality of units of dynamic data are written into said storage device,and said units of dynamic data are written by said controller into theone of said two files included in said storage device selected by theuser using said selector means, and wherein each of said two files canbe written to by a plurality of units of dynamic data.
 2. Thereproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controllerincludes means for carrying out writing into said memory, correlatingsaid time data specified by said time setting means with said dynamicdata stored in said storage device, and reading from said storage devicesaid dynamic data corresponding to said specified time data.
 3. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said controller comprises aclock section, and when said clock section coincides with said specifiedtime data stored in said memory, said controller reads out said dynamicdata from said storage device.
 4. The reproducing apparatus as claimedin claim 1, wherein said reproducing apparatus comprises a conversioncircuit for converting said dynamic data read from said storage deviceinto an analog signal.
 5. The reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim1, further comprising display means for displaying an identificationidentified said stored digital signal, wherein the reproducing apparatusincludes a notched portion arranged on an upper left of a surfacethereof having said display means mounted thereon.
 6. The reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising, an input deviceoperable by the user of said apparatus for entering at least a recordingstart mode, a recording end mode, and a reproduction start mode, whereinsaid input device includes a button for entering a reproducing startmode, said button being arranged in said notched portion.
 7. A recordingand/or reproducing apparatus comprising: a microphone; an analog todigital converting circuit for converting an output signal from saidmicrophone into a digital output signal; a semiconductor memoryincluding two files for storing said digital output signal from saidanalog to digital converting circuit; a selector operable by a user ofthe apparatus for selecting one of said two files to which the digitaloutput signal is to be written; a digital to analog converting circuitfor converting a digital signal read from said semiconductor memory intoan analog output signal; an input device operable by the user of saidapparatus for entering at least a recording start, a recording end, anda reproduction start mode; a controller for controlling in response toan input from said input device a writing of said digital signal fromsaid analog to digital converting circuit into said semiconductor memoryand a reading of a stored digital signal from said the selected one ofsaid two files of semiconductor memory; and a cabinet in which saidmicrophone, said analog/digital converting circuit, said digital/analogconverting circuit, and said input device are arranged, wherein saidoutput signal from said microphone converted by said analog to digitalconverting circuit into said digital output signal is written into theone of said two files selected by said selector as audio data, andwherein each of said two files can be written by a plurality of units ofaudio data.
 8. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed inclaim 7, wherein said controller includes means for selectively readingout from said storage device said digital signal specified by said inputdevice and for supplying said digital signal to said digital to analogconverting circuit.
 9. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said controller controls a start of saidwriting of said digital output signal from said analog to digitalconverting circuit into the selected one of said two files of saidsemiconductor memory and a stop of said writing into said semiconductormemory in response to an input from said input device; and after saidinput device is operated and a predetermined time interval has lapsedsaid controller controls the start of said writing into the selected oneof said two files of said semiconductor memory of said digital outputsignal from said analog to digital converting circuit.
 10. The recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidsemiconductor memory comprises a first semiconductor memory includingsaid two files and said input device includes time setting means forsetting a time and further comprising a second semiconductor memory forstoring time data of said time set by said time setting means; and saidcontroller includes means for reading out a digital signal from theselected one of said two files of said first semiconductor memoryaccording to the time data stored in said second semiconductor memory.11. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 10wherein said controller writes said time data corresponding to said timeset by said time setting means into said second semiconductor memorycorresponding to a digital signal stored in said first semiconductormemory; and according to said set time reads out a digital signalcorresponding to said set time from said first semiconductor memory. 12.The recording and/or reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 11,wherein said controller comprises a clock section and when said clocksection coincides with said time data stored in said secondsemiconductor memory said controller reads out a digital signal fromsaid first semiconductor memory.
 13. The reproducing apparatus asclaimed in claim 7, further comprising display means for displaying anidentification identifying said stored digital signal, wherein saidcabinet includes a notched portion arranged on an upper left of asurface thereof having said display means.
 14. The reproducing apparatusas claimed in claim 13, wherein said input device includes a button forentering a reproducing start mode, said button is arranged in saidnotched portion of said cabinet.
 15. The reproducing apparatus asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said cabinet has a hand strap for use whensaid user carries said reproducing apparatus.
 16. The reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cabinet has a hand strapto be used when said user carries said reproducing apparatus.
 17. Arecording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: a microphone; ananalog to digital converting circuit for converting an output signalfrom said microphone into a digital output signal containing digitalaudio data; a semiconductor memory including two files for storing saiddigital output signal from said analog to digital converting circuit,each said file being written to by a plurality of digital audio data; aselector operable by a user of the apparatus for selecting one of saidtwo files to which the digital audio data is to be written; a digital toanalog converting circuit for converting a digital signal read from saidsemiconductor memory into an analog output signal; a first input deviceoperable by the user of said apparatus for entering a recording startmode; a second input device operable by the user of said apparatus forentering a reproducing start mode; a controller for controlling inresponse to an input from said first input device a writing of saiddigital output signal from said analog to digital converting circuitinto said semiconductor memory and in response to an input from saidinput device a reading out of a stored digital signal from saidsemiconductor memory; display means for displaying identificationinformation of said stored digital signal; and a cabinet in which saidmicrophone, said analog/digital conversion circuit, said digital toanalog converting circuit, said first input device, said second inputdevice, and said display means are arranged, wherein said second inputdevice is arranged at an upper left of a surface of said cabinet havingsaid display means, and said second input device is operated with theuser's left thumb.